Enter a medieval world unlike any you've seen before.

Welcome to an innovative and reader-friendly approach to medieval history, one that combines visually appealing infographics, whimsical cartoons and lively, informative text. Every visual double-page spread highlights an aspect of the diversity and intercultural dynamics of the medieval world, from Europe to the Byzantine, Ottoman and Islamic empires.

Readers get the inside scoop on crusaders and caliphs, Mongols and midwives, as they read about expanding trade routes, power shifts, conquests, adventures and persecutions. From the daily life of the medieval child to Rabban bar Sauma's extraordinary pilgrimage, the result is a colorful and varied picture of what life was like a thousand years ago.

For example, did you know:

what life was like for medieval women? you could buy a Turkish horse for 455 cartloads of dung? the best way to stop the unstoppable knight? a Viking longship is the length of two of today's school buses? who was most likely to die from the Black Death? how Rome and Constantinople rose and fell?

Shapiro's meticulous research is brought to life by Ross Kinnaird's historically-based, humorous, illustrations. Who would imagine medieval history could be this much fun!

Stephen Shapiro holds a PhD and is the author of The Siege, Ultra Hush-hush!, Hoodwinked, and Battle Stations. He lives in Toronto.

Stephen Shapiro's profile page

Ross Kinnaird is an illustrator who has worked in London, Sydney, and Hong Kong. He currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ross Kinnaird's profile page